The Hell on Earth War continues in this issue of X-Factor and it’s still pretty good. Not great. Not bad. It’s just kind of entertaining and enjoyable to read. And I think that’s good enough. I would like to see something really dramatic or amazing happen, but I’m not expecting it. The best issues of X-Factor are usually the quiet, introspective issues. Hell on Earth War is definitely not that. It’s big. This is probably the biggest storyline X-Factor has ever done, at least in terms of in-comic scale. Hell has come to Earth, and both the Avengers and Fantastic Four make cameo appearances.

X-Factor #253

In terms of scope, this storyline is huge. And it feels like it within the story. That’s a good thing. But something like the Hell on Earth War serves to remind us how little an impact X-Factor has on the rest of the Marvel Universe. And that’s a shame.

Comic Rating: 4/5: Good.

My opinion has wavered up and down a bit on this storyline so far. It has its faults. Few of the characters feel particularly engaged in the actual storyline. Everyone just kind of feels like they’re being dragged along with no real emotional depth. The story revolves around Tier, who we barely know or have any connection to at all. And the story makes it perfectly clear that Tier is the only character who can actually stop the various Hell Lords, so what is there for X-Factor to do?

But beyond those faults, it’s still an entertaining story. The characters are written well, the villains are strong and Tier isn’t so bad. Writer Peter David is keeping a fairly rapid pace, and the stakes are definitely high. It also feels like there might be a twist or two coming up somewhere along the line. I guess we’ll wait and see. I am enjoying the story, and I remain cautiously optimistic that it’s going to be pretty awesome in the end. Though I am slightly annoyed that my favorite character, Multiple Man, has been sidelined for who knows how long.

Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!

We open in Hell, where Mephisto is holding his daughter Jezebel prisoner, and he orders his slave, Demonic Madrox, to watch over her. We get a little exposition on how Mephisto recently woke Jezebel and she immediately turned against him to help the humans, possibly because she was born of a mortal. Jezebel wants Mephisto to stop fighting over Tier.

Crap indeed

Up on Earth, the sky is bleeding because of the Hell on Earth War. Blood is literally dripping down from cracks in the sky, and it is freaking X-Factor out. Layla still wants to go back to New York to find Madrox, and Monet tells her she’s welcome to try. The two argue for a moment until Monet passes out. They scoop her up and get ready to move on while Shatterstar gives his best guess of what’s happening to the sky. Shatterstar figures the bleeding sores in the sky are signs that the walls between the different Hell dimensions are dissolving as the Hell Lords go to war. And not even the combined might of Earth’s superheroes can stop them.

This is Miss Thing’s big superhero break!

Neat splash page. Let me say that artist Leonard Kirk is doing a great job on this story so far. No complaints. Quality work.

And again, I wish X-Factor got to interact with these heroes more often. I realize Marvel isn’t going to give a big crossover to X-Factor, so we’ll never see the Hell on Earth War reflected in any other comics, but wouldn’t it be cool? A man can dream.

X-Factor head to a nearby cabin in the woods to give Tier a chance to lay down while the rest of them try and talk this out. Polaris suggests using Tier as the weapon he was born to be against the Hell Lords, but nobody knows if he’s up to the task. Not even Rahne, but she’s just grateful that she was able to put him down to sleep.

In the other room, Tier is woken up by Satana, a hottie in a barely-there black outfit. C’mon, Satana, he’s just a boy! She tries to talk/seduce him into surrendering his power to her, but then Tier spots the knife she was planning to stab him with. He screams and X-Factor run into the room. Satana reveals herself and summons her minions to battle the heroes while she goes after Tier again.

Torso-baring black dresses never go out of style

The boy is a little out of his element, but after she attacks him, and he sees his friends in danger, Tier gives in to the berserker spirit once again and slays Satana! Then he tells Polaris that he’s definitely on board with taking the fight to the Hell Lords.

As the team prepares to teleport back to New York, Layla goes to check on Monet, who is starting to come around. Layla explains that Monet is feeling a bit fuzzy because taking a few blows from Pluto has led to a few mortal injuries. She’s bleeding in her brain, and she’s dying because of it. Monet is momentarily shocked, but then she puts on a strong facade and tells Layla not to spread the word.

Down in Hell, Jezebel is getting smacked around by Demonic Madrox when an unlikely ally comes to her rescue!

I guess my brother was right

It’s Strong Guy!

Guido reveals that Mephisto was the one who recruited him in the first place, but he also knew Jezebel had her own agenda. He helps her break out of Mephisto’s bonds and explains that he’s not really on Mephisto’s side, but then he’s also not really on her side either. He’s on his own side, and right now that involves setting her free. Jezebel can teleport them out of there, and she says they need to find Tier, who is the only one who can end this war.

Poor Multiple Man. The only thing he does this issue is get beaten up by Strong Guy. I hope he has a bigger role to play eventually, but it’s hard to tell. Seems he might be a demon for awhile. Oh well.

Beyond that little personal gripe, this is an otherwise entertaining comic. It’s got fights, it’s got dialogue and, like I said, the scale of this battle is pretty huge. It will be fun to see X-Factor step up to the plate and take on the Hell Lords, we’re just not quite there yet. Maybe next issue. The art is great, the characters are solid, and I think Jezebel and Guido might play a nice wildcard role in the whole thing. I’m eager to see their endgame. I’m eager to see where all of this is going, and I have more than enough faith in PAD to see us through.

I just wish Multiple Man had a bigger role. Harumph.